Combined alarm clock and switch



,May 7, 1940. M. J. MADISON COMBINED ALARM CLOCK AND SWITCH Filed 001:. 5; 1938 [NVENTOR zson,

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W mad ATTORN Y Patented May 7, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements in automatic switches, and particularly in that type which is designed to be operated ,by and in accordance with a time-actuated mechanism, such as an alarm clock or its equivalent.

Another object is to provide in the case of a spring-driven alarm clock, the combination of a switch mechanism which can be attached to and detached at will from the alarm mechanism of the clock, together with means to selectively limit the sounding of the alarm at the time that the switch is actuated, or to permit the alarm to continue unrestrainedly upon the actuation of the switch.

A further object is to provide a device, comprising an automatically actuated switch in combination with a second switch, which latter operates to reverse the function of the first, whereby when the second is in one position actuation of the first closes a circuit, while resetting of the second in the opposite position permits actua-.

tion of the first to open a circuit.

Still another object is to provide a substitute or modified form of the device, which preferably comprises a separate double switch and double receptacle unit; that can be attached with little difliculty to an existing clock, while the form first referred to is particularly designed to be built within and as an integral part of a so-called alarm clock structure.

And a still further object is to provide a further modified form, in which a spring-actuated switch is adapted to be released by the actuation of a restraining keeper, which in turn is arranged to be shifted by and in accordance with the same electrical impulse, that sounds the alarm in an electric clock, and by which latter term is meant the type of clock movement, that is run by a synchronous electric motor or its equivalent.

With the objects thus briefly stated, the invention comprises further details of construction and operation, which are hereinafter fully brought out in the following description, when read in accordance with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a front elevation of a representative type of spring-driven alarm clock, to and within which the invention is attached as an integral part; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the method of mounting the switches and electrical receptacles upon the clock casing; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation similar to Fig. 2, but shows the alarm mechanism after having actuated one of the switches; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, but showing the switch control mechanism set in a difierent position and before the switch has been actuated; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5, and showing the same position of the control mechanism, but after the switch has been shifted; Fig. 7 is a rear eleva- 5 tion of a clock to the rear of which a switch and receptacle unit has been added upon the exterior instead of being incorporated as an integral part within the interior of the clock as in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive; Fig. 8 is a I. diagrammatic view showing one switch of this switch and receptacle unit adapted to be springactuated upon the shifting of a keeper when the latter is actuated by an electromagnet, in turn adapted to be connected in the alarm circuit of a I. so-called electric clock, that is, one that is driven .by a synchronous motor, or similarly; and Fig. 9

is a diagrammatic view showing the electric connections embodied within the switch and receptacle unit.

Referring to the drawing, a clock is shown as comprising a hollow casing I, and having the usual clock face 2 and alarm indicating hand or pointer 3, while extending from the rear wall I of said casing is an alarm winding key 5, 28 which is adapted to rotate in clockwise direction, when the hour hand 6 has reached the time indicated by the alarm dial 3, and when so permitted by a proper shifting of the alarm release button 1 superimposed upon the upperpart of the cas- 30 mg Extending through the rear casing wall 4 is a double electric receptacle 8, into which electric current may be carried by any well-known type of plug (not shown) from a suitable source, while 35 a second double electric receptacle 9 also extends through and is supported by said rear casing wall 4, and is adapted to be connected through any well-known type of plug and wire conductor (not shown) to an electrical apparatus, device, or 40 unit, which one may wish to have set in operation or energized at a given time, such for instance, as a percolator, electric stove, or heater, an electrically operated oil burner, or the like, or which mechanism one may wish to have de-energized or its operation terminated at a given time, such for instance, as air conditioning apparatus, illuminated signs, a radio receiver, or the like.

Between these two receptacles there are inserted in an internal arrangement of electrical 50 connections two toggle or similar switches l0 and II. The first switch l0, when in one position, so connects the two receptacles together that actuation of the second switch H from the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 5 to the positions 58 shown in Figs. 4 and 6, respectively, electrically connects said receptacles together, while shifting the switch l into the opposite position so connects said receptacles that the same movement of the second switch ll serves to disconnect or interrupt the flow of current between said receptacles.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the winding key 5 is provided with an arcuate flange [2, which is provided with a radially inwardly extending notch IS, in turn adapted to move closely adjacent to an abbreviated portion of cylindrical flange I, carried by a plate 15, which is in turn pivotally carried upon the alarm shaft l6 and provided with a radial arm or lever l1, having an outwardly extending flnger-engageable knob It. A wire link l9, connected pivotally to the toggle switch H,. is provided upon its opposite end with an angularly disposed terminal hook portion 20, which is adapted to be positioned in the notch l3 of the flange I2, so that when the plate I5 is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 with the cylinder section I4 in raised position, it will be obvious that the limited movement of the toggle switch ll permits an equally limited movement of said flange l2, the terminal portion 20 of the link 9 being retained within the notch i3 by the flange H. The result of this arrangement is that the toggle switch H is actuated during only a restricted operation of the alarm, and conversely the limited movement of the toggle switch and link similarly limits operation of the alarm.

By contrast, reference is made to Figs. 5 and 6, wherein the lever arm I! has been shifted to an upper position, thereby depressing the cylinder section It sufficiently to permit the angular oifset hook portion 20 of the link l9 to escape radially outwardly from within the notch 13, after completion of the shifting of the switch ll, while the flange l2 continues to rotate indefinitely during the operation of the alarm and the corresponding rotation of the alarm shaft l6. With this arrangement, the closing or opening of the electric circuit is accomplished at the start of the operation of the alarm without restraining the latter, but instead permits the alarm to continue to operate as long as its actuating spring or equivalent power source continues its effective force.

Referring to Fig. '7, a switch and receptacle unit 2| is shown as being operatively mounted upon the exterior of a clock casing, instead of the corresponding switches and receptacles extending as independent elements into and supported by and within the clock casing, as in the form first described. This unit comprises a pair of double receptacles 22 and 23, which correspond with and are exactly equivalent to the respective receptacles 8 and 9, while said unit also embodies toggle switches 24 and 25, which correspond with and are exactly equivalent to the respective switches l0 and l I, also herein referred to, while in this case also a link 26 connects the switch 24 to the alarm actuated flange 21, which is the counterpart of and is operated exactly as the similar mechanism hereinbefore described.

Referring to Fig. 8, a switch and receptacle unit 23 comprise a pair of double receptacles 23 and 30, and also comprises a pair of toggle switches 3| and 32, said unit being similar to the corresponding unit shown in Fig. 7, except that the switch lever 31 is provided with a trigger extension 33, and said switch is connected by a spring 34 to a fixed element 35, which may comprise a portion of a clock casing or otherwise as may be desired. Normally maintaining the switch extension 33 in one extreme position is an angularly oscillatable keeper 36, which is pivoted at 31 and is adapted to be shifted under the impulse of an electromagnet 38 of which said keeper is the armature, which in turn is adapted for connection in the same circuit with the alarm actuating mechanism of a so-called electric clock, that is, a clock which is driven electrically, as for instance by means of a synchronous motor, or the like, in comparison with the springs by which mechanical clocks are commonly driven. Thus, an electric clock equipped with this device upon reaching a predetermined time position, the same electric impulse that thereupon actuates the electric alarm mechanism (if present) will simultaneously energize the electromagnet 38, thereby shifting the armaturekeeper 36 and permitting the spring to shift the switch 3| to the dot-and-dash position indicated.

Fig. 9 is intended merely to diagrammatically represent the electrical connections extending between the receptacles 8 and 9 and the intervening switches l0 and II, in order to effect an electrical operation or discontinuance of such operation, as has been hereinbefore referred to.

As to the novel details of the structure hereinbefore described, it is to be understood that they may be varied as to relatively minor details, without departing from the scope of the invention, as it relates to the broad principles of operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

The combination of a rotatable shaft in a clock, with a receptacle, a switch controlling the line connection between said receptacle and a source of current, a link connected to said switch, means to maintain said link and through it said switch normally in a given position, and said link being operable by rotation of said shaft to cause it to shift said switch, and a second switch electrically connected across the line from the source of current, and operative to reverse the effect of said first switch in respectively opening or closing a circuit through said receptacle upon rotation of said shaft.

MARTIN J. MADISON. 

